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AUTGMATIG GAR SWITCH.

No. 381,949. EH3 [Patented May 1, 1888.

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AUTOMATIC GAR SWITCH.

No. 381,949. Patented May 1, 1888.,

WITNESSES. INVENTDB.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES R. POTTER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

AUTOMATIC CDAR-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 381,949, dated May 1,1888.

Application filed October 14, 1887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. POTTER, of Providence, in the State ofRhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in AutomaticGar-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in the combination of a system of levers with theswitch-bar of the track, the said levers and switch-bar being adaptedfor movement by means of a handlever attached to the car, as hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

Figure 1 represents a plan view, with the body of the car removed,leaving the platforms and showing the hand-levers for operating theswitch. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the car, also showing thehand-levers for operating the switch. Fig. 3 is a plan view of thetrackand switch. Fig. 4. is a longitudinal vertical section showing thesystem of levers which serve to operate the switch-bar of the track.Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 6 is a detailview showing the reversible roller for the operating-lever.

In the accompanying drawings, A is the body of the car; B, the frame towhich the body is attached; 0 O, the platform at the ends of the car. Toa bracket, D, at the under side of the platform 0, is pivoted thebell-crank lever E, having at its upper end a handle, F, and provided atits forked lower end with "a roller, G, which is preferably made of twodiameters, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in order.

' that the said roller can be used reversibly to operate the switch-barfrom either side of the rail H of the track.

The ordinary rail for horse-car tracks is shown in sections in Figs. 5and 6, and at each side of the said rail I arrange the tappetbars I I,which are arranged to project slightly above the adjacent surface of therail and are adapted for a downward movement to a position flush withsaid surface when engaged by the periphery of the roller G. Thetappet-bars II are jointed at the point a to the inwardly-projectedlevers J J, which are pivoted to suitable ears, I) b, at opposite sidesof the containing frame or box K,which is placed lengthwise under therail H.

Upon a shaft, L, is secured the upright le- Serial No. 252,396. (Nomodel.)

ver M, made in the form of a cross, with the arms 0 c, from whichconnection is made to the inner end of the levers J J by means of theconnecting-rods N N. At the upper end of the cross-lever M is looselyjointed the lever 0, which is pivoted to a stud, P, and at the outerend, d, of the lever O jointed connection is made to the pivoted arm Q,to the pivot e of which is attached the switch bar B, so that the saidswitch-bar will partake of the movement of the arm Q. The tappet-bars II are each provided with a head, the shoulders f of which serve to forma stop at the proper point of the downward movement of the tappet-bar,thus imparting the required degree of movement to the switchbar It.

In operating with my improved switchturning attachment the roller G canbe set to operate either upon the head of the tappetbar I or I byreversing the said roller in its holding -fork g, the said roller, whenset as shown in Fig. 5, being adapted to act upon the inner bar, I, andwhen revcrsely set as shown in Fig. 6, to act upon the outer bar, I,thus causing a reverse movement of the switch-bar B. When the roller Ghas been properly set to turn the switch-bar in the right direction, thedriver of the car is required upon approaching the switch to depress theroller G to the track in order to cause the downwardrhovement of theproper tappet-bar I or I, and by this means to cause the proper turningof the switch. The lever E, which carries the roller, is held up, whennot in use, by means of the spring h, and the said lever E is heldagainst lateral displacement by means of the slotted side guide, 2'.

I claim as my invention-+ 1. In combination, the-rail H, tappet-bars I1, located upon opposite sides of the rail, levers J J, pivoted to thetappet-bars I I, upright lever M, connecting-rods N N, lever O, pivotedarm Q, and switch-bar R, substantially as described. 95

2. In combination, the rail H, tappet-bars I I, located upon oppositesides of the rail, levers J J, pivoted to the tappet-bars I I, uprightlever M, connectingrods N N, lever O, pivoted arm Q, switch-bar R, andthe bell- 100 crank lever E, adapted to depress one of the and the leverE, provided with the reversible tappet-bars I I, substantially asdescribed. roller G, having two diameters, substantially 3. Incombination, the rail H, tappet-bars as and for the purpose specified.

I lloeated upon opposite sides of the track, JAMES R. POTTER. 5oneextendinghigherthantheother,theswiteh- Witnesses:

bar R, the system of levers, as described, for SOCRATES SCHOLFIELD,

connecting thetappet-bars with thesWitch-bar, JOHN S. LYNCH.

